Tennis training device

Abstract

A training device used to instruct the student of tennis in developing a proper grip in connection with proper forehand and backhand swinging, service, volley or overhead strokes in which the execution of an imperfect swing resultant from insufficient gripping strength of the hand is accompanied by a noise and vibrant sensation to the trainee. The training device has an easily deformable elongated hand grip portion having an elongated shaft loosely extending along the longitudinal axis thereof. A pair of spaced apart slide collars are placed within the hand grip and loosely surround the shaft. One end of the shaft is provided with a stop knob while the other end of the shaft has a neck member attached thereto. When in a normal position, the stop knob is spaced from one of the slide collars and the neck member abuts one end of the hand grip. When a user grips the handle grip portion with a proper grip force while swinging the device during simulation of any of the usual tennis stroke motions the neck portion will remain in its normal position, however, if the grip force is improper the neck member will move away from the end of the grip member and the stop knob will contact a slide collar, therefore a visual and audible indication will be observed, signaling improper hand grip of the grip member.

I claim: 
     
       1. A tennis training aid comprising the combination of: a shaft, an elongated hollow resilient grip member having a longitudinal central opening loosely enclosing said shaft,   an elongated neck member axially aligned with and normally disposed closely adjacent one end of said grip member,   a neck extension extending outwardly from one end of said neck member and loosely extending into said central opening of the grip member, one end of said shaft fixedly being engaged with said neck extension,   a shaft slide collar fixed within said central opening adjacent the other end of said grip member and encircling said shaft, for sliding engagement therewith   a neck extension slide collar fixed within said central opening and encircling said neck extension,   and a stop knob, said stop knob being fixedly engaged with the other end of said shaft and spaced from said shaft slide collar when in a normal position,   said grip member being deformable to a position of embracement about said shaft when and as a user grips said grip member with proper pressure during simulation of any of the usual stroke motions in a tennis game, said grip member moving away from its position of embracement about said shaft when improper pressure is applied thereto, wherefore said shaft and said neck extension slide relative to their respective collars and said neck member moves from its normal position closely adjacent said end of said grip member to a position wherein it is spaced therefrom to give a visual signal to a user that a proper degree of grip firmness has not been attained, with said stop engaging said shaft collar and emitting a sound on contact therewith to give an audible signal to a user that a proper degree of grip firmness has not been attained.